Bedwas - Newsletter 6.12.21
Potential Class Closures
As we near the end of this term the pressures felt in schools regarding staffing continue to build.
Whereas we have so far been able to modify our arrangements to compensate for staff absences, this might not always be the case.
Our staff are as vulnerable as anyone else when it comes to catching Covid and many of our staff are parents of school-age children and might find themselves without other childcare options should their child/ren need to isolate or return a positive Covid test result. Normally we would book supply cover through an agency however, agencies are now more often than not unable to provide any cover whatsoever.
Whilst we will do everything possible to keep classes as they are there are some contingency plans linked with our risk assessment that might need to be used. In certain circumstances, depending on which staff are available, some class bubbles might have to be combined in order to ensure adequate staffing ratios.
Where the staffing levels available in school become unviable there will be the need to temporarily close one or more classes and move to remote learning as a short term solution for those particular groups. This route would only be taken where no other safe option was available.
Should this be necessary you will be notified via the school blog, class communication platform (e.g. Seesaw) and the school texting service. Learning will continue online during the period of class closure.
Christmas Dinner 8/12/21
It’s still not too late to book a Christmas lunch. We now run Caerphilly Catering’s cashless system so if your child hasn’t had a school lunch since the system started and is therefore not on this system you can phone Mrs Dee in the school office who can help you set up an account. Information about how to set this up was sent out to all families when the system was launched but that was quite a few months ago and lots has happened in the meantime!
Parking
At drop-off and pick-up times we are still getting far fewer cars on the zig-zags on Celtic Way; thank you! There are however still some people who are stopping their cars on the lines especially in the mornings. Sometimes, this has happened despite there being a safe parking space just a few metres in front of where the car has stopped. The lines are there to keep our children safe, please do not stop on these lines.
Christmas Cards
Christmas cards for friends can be brought in but will need to be in school by the end of this week. This is in order for a safe period of time to pass before we distribute them towards the end of next week.
Covid Update Reminder
Below is the latest advice we have been given from the Welsh Government and NHS – Someone in your household has COVID symptoms or has tested positive for COVID:
You are a child under five – you do not need to have a test or self isolate.
You are over 18 and fully vaccinated – You should self-isolate and take a PCR test. Selfisolate until the result. If the result is negative you can stop self-isolating. If the result is positive you must self-isolate for 10 days.
You are aged 5-17 – You should self-isolate and take a PCR test. Self-isolate until the result. If the result is negative you can stop self-isolating. If the result is positive you must self-isolate for 10 days.
You are over 18 and not fully vaccinated – Self-isolate immediately for 10 days. You should take a PCR test on day 2 and again on day 8.
R Cook
Head Teacher
The Federation of Bedwas Junior and Rhydri Primary Schools
